Method of processing hay and the like



A ril 8, 1952 B. E. GETZ METHOD OF PROCESSING HAY AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Fi1e d.July 26, 1949 April 8, 1952 B. E. GETZ METHOD OF PROCESSING HAY AND THE LIKE Original FileEl July 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J'QYZZZ'ZZZTGYGZZ April 8, 1952 B. E. GETZ 2,592,270

METHOD OF PROCESSING HAY AND THE LIKE Original Filed Ju1y'26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 $4 a: @048 wnzl y April 8, 1952 B. E. GETZ METHOD OF PROCESSING HAY AND THE LIKE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed July 26, 1949 Z VEHLUF 5612 Jarzgz'zzfl? 61932 zaxfii 1 Ap 8, 1952 B. E. GETZ 2,592,270

METHOD OF PROCESSING HAY AND THE LIKE Original Filed July 26, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 d? if .fi. a I:

J 50 T; W 61 ZZYVEHZUF Patented Apr. 8, 1952 sBenjamimEa-Getz, Morton, Ill., assignor to A.-F. Meyer Mfg. r (10., .Morton, 111., a corporation of f T'Illinois Original application July-26,1949, Serial No.

106,864. -Div'ided 'and this application- Novemnber. 8,.1951, Serial-No. 255,487

" 2 "Claims.

This invention relatesto improvementsin a method of processing hay and thelike, :andis highly desirable for use in connection with the processing or conditioning of hay andzsimilar I crop requiring natural. drying in the field, al-.

though the invention may have other uses. and purposes as will'be apparent .to onaskilledin the art.

The instant application is a division ofamy copending I application entitled f-Agriculturalr Cuttingand Processing Machine Assembly, filed July 26,1949, Serial No. 106,864.

In order to facilitateharvesting, add to the economy of harvestingand storing, and avoid the risk of loss.due to inclement weather, it has become desirable in connection with hay and similar crop requiring natural drying in the field, to cut the hay, and thereafter crush the hay between a pair of rollers, and thendistribute it loosely upon the ground for drying. The crushing preserves the natural color of .the hay, preserves the .nutriment. value therein 'to r a greater extent than otherwise, and vmaterially hastens the time of drying. Heretofore,.the

methods employed for this .purpose were such.

in practice that the tractor or otherpower vehicle ran over a processed swath of hay and pressed a goodly portion of the processed haydown into the stubble, frequently requiring. an additional tedding operation, and in any eventrenderingthe hay non-uniform in character and requiring a greater drying time for the parts the tractor ran over.

With the foregoing in mind, itis an important object of the instant invention to provide a,

method of crushing or processing hay .orrsimilar crops naturally dried in the field, which includes the steps of crushing and lightly redistributing a mowed swath, while mowing the next-adjacent swath, whereby the tractor -may pass over. a mowed swath, but never ever a processed swath.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a method of processing hay and the like, which includes the stepsof mowing a swath, and simultaneously processing the mowed crop in .the next adjacent mowed swath .by. picking .up that crop, crushingthe same to fracture'the stems thereof, and thenredistributing and spreading the crop on the ground in a loose fiufiy condition .for quick drying, behind the tractor or lotherpower vehicle and behind the. mechanism used for the crushing operation.

Still another object of'thev instantinvention is the provision of a 'new and-novelmethod of processing hay and the'like, whereby the hay may be cut, crushed, and redistributed-in'the field for drying without anything passing over the redistributed or processed hay.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of a method of processing hay and'the like, including the stepsfof acting upona plurality of swaths in the field at substantially the same time, namely, cutting one swath while processing the-next adjacent swath.

While some of the moresalient ieatures, characteristics and advantages of the instant inventionare pointed out, others will become apparent from the following disclosures takenin conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentaryplan viewof a power vehicle in the form of a tractor to which isconnected as a unit mowing means andv processing apparatus embodying principles of the instant invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the processing apparatus of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional View, with parts broken away, =taken substantially as indicated by the line IIII- III of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of-the arrows;

Figure 4 is-also a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view takensubstantially as indicated .bythe line IV-IV of Fig 2;

Figure 5 is .an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken substantially as indicated by the line V-V of Fig, 2, illustrating the mount- .ing .of :the .rolls in the processing-iapparatus Figure 6is an. enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view takenrlongitudinally of-athe wprocessing-apparatus substantially as indicatedby tional view taken substantially as indicated by the line IX--IX of Fig. 4.

As shown on the drawings:

'Brie'fiy,'the instant method embodiesthe step of mowing a swath of hay or similar crop and while so doing processing the next adjacent or just previously mowed swath. The processing operationconsists in picking up the mowed hay by suitable means such as a rotary fake, and passing it between a pair of crushing rolls, after which the hay is again distributed upon the ground in a loose fluffy condition and in an even manner-for, drying'in the field. By so processing a swath of hay that has been already mowed, next adjacent the swath then being mowed, not only is a proper time interval between the cutting and the processing maintained, but more important, it is impossible for any farm vehicle to pass over a processed swath of hay and adversely affect a goodly portion of it.

As an example of how the method may actually be practiced in the field, and as an example of at least one form of equipment capable of performing the method, the accompanying drawings and following description are included herein.

With reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that an illustrated embodiment of one form of apparatus capable of performing the instant method is shown in operative association with a power vehicle in the form of a tractor generally indicated by numeral i. This tractor is provided with the usual draw bar arrangement 2 and a power takeoff visually exemplified by a telescopic shaft and universal joint assembly 3.

Pivotally connected to the drawbar arrangement 2, for up and down relative movement, is the frame 4 of a mowing or cutting mechanism, which is of known construction, and embodies a gear box 5 and drive wheel 6 connected to the shaft assembly 3 to be driven from the tractor takeoff. A cutter bar assembly generally indicated by numeral 7 extends laterally to one side of the tractor and includes the usual guard members la with which reciprocating knife blades lb are associated, the reciprocation of which is effected by an eccentric connection with the drive wheel 6. In this assembly, a cutter bar assembly fioats independently of the tractor, to one side thereof, and is especially suitable for cutting over uneven ground.

Previously, where such a mowing arrangement has been connected to a tractor, it has been usual to employ a caster wheel mounting at the rear end of the frame 4. That was because the mower was all that was connected to the tractor, and a rear rotary support was deemed desirable.

In the present instance, however, where processing apparatus is integrally joined with the mower, the frame 4 has been foreshortened, the caster wheel eliminated, and the forward part of a main frame 8 for the processing apparatus is welded, bolted, or equivalently secured directly to the foreshortened frame 4 of the cutting mechanism as indicated at 9 in Fig. 1. Thus processing apparatus and the cutting mechanism are joined together to all intents and purposes as an integral unit and may be treated as a unit when connecting and disconnecting the entire cutting and processing assembly to and from the tractor by virtue of the combined drawbar structure. It will be understood that the main frame 8 is formed of various channel and angle irons welded or equivalently secured together at meeting points, and it is not necessary herein to enter into a specific description of the details of construction of such frame.

The rear end of the main frame 8 of the processing apparatus is preferably supported on each side thereof with a trailing caster wheel if), as clearly seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 4.

With reference more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, it will be seen that the main frame 8 carries an underslung subframe II which is' pivotally connected at each side of the rear end thereof to the subframe as indicated at [2 in Fig. 2. The side rails of this subframe H normally slope forwardly and downwardly, and each of these side rails is preferably provided with a ground skid 13 in the form of a U-shape pipe or the equivalent and which ground skids prevent dropping the subframe too great a distance, and which effectively support the subframe in operative position when it is lowered to its maximum extent.

Elevating adjustment means are provided for the subframe H and these means, of course, are carried by the main frame 8. As seen best in Figs. 2 and 3, a pair of uprights I4-I4 are secured to the main frame 8 and at their upper ends support a cross shaft l5. At each end thereof this shaft carries a pulley I6 to which one end of a cable I! is fixed, the other end of the cable being connected to an eye on the front end of the subframe H as indicated at 18. Near one end thereof the shaft 15 also carries a worm wheel l9 fixed to the shaft and in mesh with a drive worm 2D actuated by a manually operable handle 2| which may be locked in a suitable position of adjustment by any desirable means. The operator need simply rotate the handle 2| in the proper direction to either elevate or lower the subframe I I when desired.

Hay elevating means designed to pick up mowed hay from the ground are also carried by the subframe H. These means which are only diagrammatically illustrated herein are preferably in the form of a rotary rake as best seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 6. These means are of the same construction set forth in George Innes U. S. Letters Patent No. 2,133,143, issued October 11, 1938. Journaled in suitable bearing blocks on the subframe II is a cross shaft 22. This shaft carries a plurality of spaced hollow drum segments 23. A second cross shaft 24 (Fig. 6) extends parallel to shaft 22 and extends through these drum segments, but is eccentrically disposed in relation to the drum segments. This second shaft 24 is driven in any suitable manner from the shaft 22 and carries a series of spaced rake elements each of which comprises a plurality of spaced tines 25, each tine preferably having the end portion thereof turned rearwardly as indicated at 26 in Fig. 6. Each set of tines 25 is disposed in the space between adjacent drum segments as clearly seen in Figs. 1 and 4. Owing to the eccentric disposition of the rake or tine shaft 24, the tines 25 will operate through a circle of operation indicated by numeral 2'! in Fig. 6. Thus, each tine 25 will project outwardly from the surface of the drum segments 23 variable distances during each revolution, the tine being substantially flush with the drum surfaces when extending rearwardly, gradually increasing to a maximum extent through the forward of rotation, and then gradually decreasing to the minimum extent through the next 180 of rotation. Therefore, as each tine engages mowed hay upon the ground, it will first engage that hay with a lesser extent beyond the drum surfaces, and gradually increases its extent from those surfaces to better grip the hay as the tine moves upwardly and forwardly so as to insure adequate elevation of the hay. After the tine passes the midpoint where it is at its greatest extent, it gradually recedes into the drum surfaces in order to effect a quick and positive release of the hay so picked up. In the illustrated instance there are four equally spaced tines shown upon each rake element, but it will be understood that the; number of tinessm'ay be varied depending-upon theexigencies ofcircumstances.

Adjacent each end'of'the 'rotar-y rake structure, is a semi-circularguardZBterminating at its upper end in a rearwardly;sloping and forwardly bent portion 29, the function ofthese guards being to prevent hay beingthrown or dropped between the frame and :the end-drum segments and immediately adjacent-.thebearings for the shaft 22.

Hay picked or thrown upwardly: by theaction of the rotary rake structure just above described, is delivered by that structure to crushing means now about to be described. With refer ence more particularly to Figs. 2, 5; Bandt'l, it will be seen that a pair of 'frame'members extends generally upwardly from. eachside of .the

subframe l I. These -members are so arranged as to define an open channel: 31 therebetween as clearly seen in Fig. '7. These channels 3 l--3l accommodate bearings for the shafts of crushing rolls. In the illustrated instance two such rolls are shown, including a lowerroll32 carried on a shaft 33 journaled in fixed bearingsSd-M, these bearings being locked in position in the respective channels 3 I --3 I. An upper roll 35 is carried on a shaft 36 which is journaled in floating bearings 31-31, which bearings may move up and down within the channels 3l--3l.

The upper roll 35 is preferably resiliently urged to contact with the lower roll 32.- The means for applying pressure to this upperroll are illustrated more clearly'in Figs- 2, 4, 5 and 6. These means include a cylinder 38 fixedly carried on the upper end of'each upstanding frame assemblySl). Each cylinder 38 is provided with a pair of upwardly projecting members 3939,'

which members journal a cross shaft 40 that may be manually oscillated by means of ahand lever ii. In each cylinder 33- is a compression spring 42, the lower end of which bears against a plunger 43 contacting the respective bearingl3'l. The upper end of the spring is secured to a plunger type rider Ml in engagement with a cam 45 fixed to the shaft 49. It will therefore be apparent that when'a load ispassed between the crusher rolls 36 and 32 variations in the loads are compensated for by a slight up and down movement of the upper roll 36 against the action of the springs 42-42. In the event a sudden overload or jamming occurs, it is a simple expedient for the operator to move the handle 4|, actuate the cam 45-45 and release the pressure on the upper roll sufficient to clear any jamming or sudden overload. A movement of the handle in the opposite direction, of course, restores the pressure upon the upper roll.

In order to prevent hay being thrown above the set of crushing rolls by the rotary rake above described, a bafile or deflector 46 (Figs. 2, 4 and 6) projects forwardly and upwardly from the cross members on the roll frame 30, and this member has a skirt 4'! extending downwardly substantially into contact with the upper roll 36 so as to prevent material being tossed over the upper surface of this roll.

On the rearward side of the crusher rolls scraper means are provided to maintain the rolls in a clean condition and prevent long strands of hay or other material from winding around the rolls. These means include an upper scraper blade 38 and a lower scraper blade 49 for the rolls 36 and 32, respectively, the blades extending entirely across the apparatus and contacting; the respective rolls;

shaft being. journaled. in" lugs- 5 l-5l .projecting from the sides of theupstandingizframe mem--.- bers 3ll30.. On then-outer. ends: of. the shaft links 5252 are connected, and the links for the .upper 1 shaft are connected to: the links for the lower shaft immediately therebelow, by means of a tension. spring- 53 designedrtoudraw the 'upper and .lower 'li'nkstowardxeach other,v

thereby resiliently urging the scrapers against the respective rolls. Owingto the length of :the scraper blades 48 and. 49;-.it mayxbebenefi'cial toprovide a reinforcement for the'bladesin the central portion thereof. To this end,=. a rearwardly projecting bar: 54 welded .orrequivae lently secured. to the cross .membersbetweensthe frame parts 3D 30, substantially centrally of the structure, anddependi'ng from this; bar. a bracket or bolt carrier 55. As seen best in Fig-.16, a bolt EB'may passthrough' the bracket 55 ;into contact with a center portion of the scraperblade 48, and a bolt 51 may likewise contact the scraper blade 69, thus stabilizing the central portion: of.

these blades.

The drive for the processing apparatus isbest seen in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4," with certain structural details shown in other figuresreferredzto later. The shaft for the aforesaid. drive wheelr's oper ating the mowing means extends :through'zthat wheel and is connected by a suitable telescopic shaft and universal joint-assembly 58 to a; bevel gear 59 and a gear box. 66 mounted on the main frame. Journaled in one of the upstanding: frame elements l4 and. thergearbox-itself. is a shaft 6! which carries on its inner end a bevel gear 62 receiving its drive fromthe aforesaid gear 59. On the. outerendtthereofthis shaft 61 carries a drive. sprocket 63' and a suitableclutch 64 manually controlled by a lever 65 ;establishes power engagement: for the operation of the drive sprocket 63.

When. the clutch is engaged;.thesprocketr63 through a chain 66 drives a-s'procketfil on the shaft 33 of the lower crusher. roll. As seen clearlyin Fig. 4, this.shaft'33:carries another sprocket. 68 adj acent the'sprocket 61: around which a;-:tor.- tuously disposed chain 69 is entrained. As seen k in Fig. 2, the chain 69 passes in the reverse direction around a sprocket 10 on the shaft 36 of the upper crusher roll, then extends rear- .wardly around a tensioning sprocket 1 I, and then forwardly around a sprocket 12 on a stub shaft 13 journaled in an upstanding support 14 secured to the subframe H on one side thereof. From the sprocket 12, the chain 69 again encircles the aforesaid sprocket 68 on the lower roll shaft. inner sprocket 15 which by way of a chain 16 drives a sprocket ll secured to the shaft 22 of the rotary rake structure above described so as to drive the latter.

With reference now more particularly to Figs. 7 and 8, it will be noted that tension is maintained upon the roll driving chain 69 by a suitable mounting arrangement for the sprocket N. This sprocket H is carried on a stub shaft 18 the journal of which is mounted on a slide member 19 which may slide backwardly and forwardly inside a channel formation carried on an arm 8! projecting from the adjacent upstanding frame part 30. A compression spring 82 disposed between the slide 19 and a bolt 83 adjustably mounted in a lug 84 projecting from.

Each: blade is secured-to an angleniron to'which-az shaft 50- is' welded or equivalentlyysecured, the- The stub shaft 13 also carries an the arm 8| normally urges the slide I9 and sprocket H rearwardly to maintain the chain 69 in a taut condition. Now with reference again to Fig. 2, it will be noted that as the upper roll may move upwardly and downwardly both against and with the action of the pressure spring 4242, the sprocket 10 pulls upon and yields to the chain 69, causing the sprocket H to move inwardly and outwardly against the action of the compression spring 82, proper tension being maintained at all times by that compression spring 82.

Looking now at Figs. 4 and 9, it will be noted that safety means are provided to prevent injury to the drive mechanism and other apparatus in the event the rotary rake structure strikes a rock or some other substantially unyieldable object in the ground. To this end, it will be noted that the sprocket 12 which transfers the drive to the stub shaft 13 is loosely disposed upon the shaft 13 and is urged into engagement with a slip clutch connection 83 carried in part with the sprocket 12 and in part by the sprocket 15, by means of a compression spring 84. As before stated, the sprocket 15 through its chain 16 drives the rotary rake assembly. Consequently, should that rotary rake strike an immovable object, the rotation of the rake is stopped, and rather than any injury occur to any part of the apparatus, the clutch arrangement 83 will merely slip against the action of the spring 84.

The practice of the instant invention with the apparatus above described is highly eflicient, rapid, and economical. No more trouble is experienced in operating the mowing and processing assembly than would be experienced in operating a mower alone. It will be noted from the showing in Fig. 1, that the processing means follow directly behind the tractor I while the cutter bar extends laterally to one side thereof, so that the tractor and processing means travel down a mowed swath while the cutting means are mowing the next adjacent swath.

While the next swath is being mowed, the rotary rake assembly above described picks up the mowed hay in the previously cut swath behind the tractor and elevates and throws that picked up hay between the crusher rolls 35 and 32'. These crusher rolls crush the stems or stalks of the hay, and as it passes between the rolls, the crushed hay is permitted to fall loosely and lightly upon the ground behind the processing apparatus. The crushing of the stems or stalks of the hay enables the hay to be dried in a considerably shorter time than usual, and the loose and free disposition of the crushed hay also aids in shortening the drying time, since the hay is distributed substantially the way it would be if acted upon by a tedding machine. In most cases, with the use of the present apparatus the hay will naturally dry upon the ground in substantially half the time heretofore necessary. It will be noted especially that after the passage of the machine, none of the hay is left compacted or pressed against the ground by virtue of heavy wheels traveling thereover. After processing, the hay is left loosely upon the ground in a fluifed condition where it may easily be raked up when dry.

It will be noted that the instant method may be practiced very economically, and is highly effective in the satisfactory processing of hay and similar crops, and it will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected in the steps of the method, without departing from the scope of the novel concept of the instant invention.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of processing hay and similar crops naturally dried in the field, including the steps of crushing and lightly redistributing a mowed swath while mowing the next adjacent swath.

2. The method of harvesting hay and similar crop to be naturally dried on the ground, including the steps of mowing a swath, and simultaneously processing the mowed crop in the next adjacent swath by picking up the mowed crop, crushing the same to fracture the stems thereof, and then redistributing and spreading the crop on the ground in a loose, fluffy condition for quick drying. 

